Metal-free, Tf2NH-catalyzed 1, 6-conjugate addition of imidazopyridine to para-quinone methides: Easy access to C3-functionalized triarylmethane imidazopyridine

An inexpensive and commercially available Tf2NH-catalyzed 1,6-conjugate addition of imidazopyridine (IMPY) heterocycles to para-quinone methides (p-QMs) is reported. The present transformation provides a diverse class of C3-functionalized triarylmethanes heterocyclic derivatives of imidazopyridine. These metal-free transformations provided a very broad substrate scope of conjugate addition product with a high yield up to 97% within a short duration. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.